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Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET aL bre LIL INMTERVIEY WITH Ontinucec "a petition was circulated by the Progressive Miners of America of Local 54 during the latter part of May, 2937, at which time some 412 sierctures wert obtained. This was done because we felt there was going to be an attempt to throw this mine over to Unitsc Mine Workers and we wanted to he ready to prove to the National Labor Reletions Board that all employees at that mine wished to belong to the Progressive Minors of Amorica, "Although I wes awarc, through th. press, that a contract had boen signed between ELSHOFT and the United King Verkers on or about August 20, 1937, I did not take anv part in tho negotistions tuat went on botween the Frogressive Miners of f-atrica and ELSHOPF at that time. “on or about September 26, 1937, I reccived word that the mine was going to open, I went out to sec if any other members of our organiza- tion had been notified to report for work. They had not, In spite of this, about 400 Progressive Mincrs reported for work on the morning of ‘Sevtember 27. I was present with the group ef mon snong whom were wro wero talking to OSCAR FALCETTI, wes the spokesman for the Progressives. He told FALCETTI that he h2d his men out there to go to work that morning, all Progressive Miners, and OSCAR FALCETTI told the minors that he had 4 contract with the United Mine Workers and he said that the mine would only employ Unitcd Mine Yorkers, "Tt was at about this time that I ond otkors of Local 54 heard that strike brenkers were going to be imported fron Southorn Illinois by United Mine “orkers to opercte the mines, Therefore, our men stayed out at the mine on a 24-hour shift to seo that no strike broakers took our jobs. Frim time to time we notified the Mancgement that we were willing to go to work and that it was not 9 strixe against the company. This situation lasted up until November 23, 1937 when the company ebtained an injunction in Federal Court which enjoined us from coming on to the property. Scptember, “During the early part of 1937, after charges of unfair lebor hind been filsa by our organization against tha Mine tpt Coal Company wen aki an Ds Cle ek a SS Frietel be a hearing was hold in Chicago, Illinois, before Mr. LEONARD BAJORK, Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board ding this meeting were t representing the Progressive Miners of Amcrica. MUNDSON was there representing = 285 »